YOU CAN HAVE RESULTS...OR EXCUSES...NOT BOTH!

As a Personal Trainer and Health Coach, one of the excuses that I hear most often for not exercising while traveling is that people don't have the necessary equipment to get their workout in.  ...well, I'm going to tell you that that, my friend, is nothing more than a cop out!

My clients that use my Online Personal Trainer know that when they're traveling, I will assign them a workout to do that requires absolutely NO equipment...all body weight.  I've personally done the workout when I was traveling, and I would challenge anyone to do it and say that they didn't get a good workout from it!

Here's the gist of the workout (video instructions can be found on my Online Personal Trainer):

Jumping Jacks (30 - 50)
Leg Raises with Hip Thrust or Bicycle Crunches (12 - 30)
Sumo Squat with Side Leg Raises (10 - 12 on each side)
Inch Worm (with Push-Up at bottom for increased intensity) (5 - 10)
Wall Sit (30 - 60 seconds)
Push Up (10 - 20)
Walking Lunge (10 - 12 on each side)
Tricep Dip or Pike Push-Up (10 - 40)
Burpee (10 - 15)
Plank Tuck Extension (8 - 12 on each side)

Exercises should be completed with minimal rest in between, and as a Superset.  Once you've completed all exercises, rest for 1 - 2 minutes, and repeat 2 - 3 times.

The benefit of this type of workout is that you get your strength training AND your cardio all in one super effective, efficient workout.  This type of training is known as, High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).  Due to the way the workout is done, it creates one of the highest metabolic burns (and afterburn) of any workout out there.

I've also created workouts that use hand weights, balls, bands, slides, and the TRX system.  If you are considering beginning a workout program, please make sure that you start off slowly.  Understand that you WILL BE sore...probably very sore for the first week, but this is your body making the changes that you want.  Be patient because only modest reductions in body weight (about 2 - 3%) will happen in the beginning of an exercise program.  According to studies, "...literature suggests that diet plus exercise, rather than diet only or exercise only, produces significantly greater weight loss at 12+ months.  Even though the scale might not be going down as fast as you'd like, you have to know that you are creating YOUR health from the inside out...you WILL notice your clothes fitting better, and other people will comment that your face looks thinner...don't stop...keep it up, and you'll get to where you want to be!  Remember...you didn't gain the weight overnight...you won't lose it overnight either.

If you're interested in my Online Personal Trainer, you can find more information, and a short video on my website: www.fitinyourpants.com.  For less than $2.80 a day you'll receive customized, progressive workouts, daily accountability, and weekly check-in calls from me personally.  If you start now, you'll be well ahead of those making a New Year's resolution to "get fit"...heck, I'll even go as far as saying that you'll look great in your holiday pictures...at holiday parties, and you'll feel sexier on New Year's Eve!  So why not start your fitness journey now?  What do you have to lose...except for fat and weight?  GET YOUR SEXY BACK!!!!  

Your Weight, Your Fat, and Your Health

Wait!!!  What's the big deal with weight???  We get so hung up on the number on the scale, when it doesn't even reveal the true picture to us.  Your bathroom scale can only measure your body mass in pounds (or kilograms), but is completely indifferent to your body composition.  A scale can make someone seem overweight...even if they are not over fat, and vice-versa.  You see, a scale can not possibly tell you what you body's fat mass (or lean mass) is.  It is important to point out that anyone trying to lose "weight" is really trying to lose fat...not necessarily weight.

Let's take a closer look at body composition, which is the number that you should be looking at to determine if you "fall within a healthy range", determine if you need to lose fat, or to see if the "weight" you've recently lost is fat or lean mass.  This is especially important because "dieting" often leads to a loss of fat-free weight and water, and this is why dieting alone is not conducive to creating the lean, toned looking body that most people seek.  In order to lose fat, you MUST combine a healthy diet WITH exercise (especially strength training).

Let's also take a close look as to why during a weight loss program (combining diet and exercise), there are times when weight loss slows, stops, or even reverses.  Now read this carefully...despite the fact that your weight loss may have slowed, stopped, or that you may have gained a few pounds, you still can be loosing fat and gaining lean body mass. 

Click on the following photo as a reference to see more detail on fat loss.

The magic number that we need to look at here is your body fat percentage.  A healthcare professional, or Personal Trainer should be able to give you a fairly accurate, quick assessment of what your body fat is.  Once we know that number, we can determine how much body fat you need to lose to be within a healthy range, and ultimately deduce approximately what your weight should be.  Let's do the math so you can see what I'm talking about:

Tom is a 49 year old man who weighs 212 lbs, and has an estimated BF% (body fat) of 21.3%.  His goal is to reach a BF% of 17% (which is in the "healthy" range for him).

     STEP 1 -  100% - BF% = Lean Mass %
                      100% - 21.3% = 78.7%

     STEP 2 -  Body weight x Lean Mass % = Lean Mass
                       212 lbx x .787 = 167 lbs Lean Mass

     STEP 3 -  100% - Desired BF% = Desired Lean Mass %
                       100% - 17% = 83%

     STEP 4 -  Lean Body Mass/Desired Lean Body Mass % = Desired Body Weight
                       167 lbs / .83 = 201 lbs

So you can see that the weight corresponding to the desired BF% of 17% is equal to 201 lbs for Tom.  With regular aerobic activity, resistance training, and dietary management, he would need to lose approximately 11 lbs of fat weight to reach his goal of 17% BF.

I know this was technical, and I hope I explained it thoroughly enough so that it helps you see why the number on the scale isn't the only number that you need to look at.  Find someone who can give you an estimation of what your BF% is, and then you can do the math for yourself to see where your "healthy" weight is.  You should also know that for women, a BF% between 15-31% is considered acceptable...anything over 31% is considered obese.  For men, a BF% between 12-24% is considered acceptable...anything over 25% is considered obese.

If you need help with your body composition assessments, losing fat weight, and getting on a consistent exercise and nutritionally sound eating plan, contact me.  You can also check out my Online Personal Trainer at www.fitinyourpants.com.  For less than $20 a week you have access to me, as your very own Personal Trainer and Health Coach.  Reclaim your health and get your sexy back!